The Flight Kit: Why Cynthia Rowley Never, Ever Checks Luggage

A beauty series in which stylish travelers share the goods they never leave home without.

When you create clothing and accessories for vacationers—like fashion designer Cynthia Rowley does—you get pretty good at figuring out what people want to pack for a holiday. “I totally have escapist fantasies which is very helpful when designing,” laughs the Chicago native who launched her own line back in 1988. “I would never go to an island for vacation where there is nothing to do, I’m just not the type of person to sit by a pool and read a book so when I design collections like swimwear, I always make them for people with active lifestyles because that’s me,” says Rowley, who’s gearing up to open a beachy flagship in the Ala Moana shopping center on Honolulu as well as launching her own line of surfboards.

“We’re a very surf-focused family so we’ll take a lot of full, but short, trips to places like Costa Rica, where I love the Blue Surf Sactuary hotel. For me, the most important thing about a hotel is that it really captures the spirit of the place. I don’t want anywhere generic. The whole point of traveling is to feel like you’re somewhere else.” That explains how Rowley and her family have done everything from camping at 13,000 feet in the Himalayas to spending Thanksgiving in Russia. “We always try to visit places in the world that are becoming harder to get to, and that also haven’t been completely homogenized yet by western culture. I really want my kids to see things like that. At the beginning of each trip, I give them both a soft-cover journal from Muji so they can write, draw, or scrap-book about the experience.”

With far-flung travel destinations comes a serious streamlining of luggage. “We never check luggage no matter how long we’re away! My 10-year-old daughter had her own little roller suitcase when she was five; it’s a pretty great life lesson to only take what you really need and what really matters. I’ll divide snacks like Kind Bars, dried fruit, and olives in everyone’s bag so one person isn’t stuck carrying everything! One of my favorite things to travel with is a big scarf by FEED. It’s the perfect wrap when you’re flying, but can also function as a beach blanket, a sarong, or a headscarf once you land. We also always share sunscreen and my favorite is SuperGoop! Sun-Defying Sunscreen Oil Broad Spectrum SPF 50. For my skin and hair, I like to pack different oils, especially if we’re surfing since the saltwater is so drying. Some of favorites are Tatcha Camellia Beauty Oil which smells amazing and Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is great before bed because it’s rich.